I apologise for being late.
ri-TAR-do — stress on second syllable. Clear double 'r' tapped.
Say when arriving late to a formal appointment, business meeting or professional context. For social occasions, lateness is often expected — but for formal contexts, apologising sincerely matters.
Italian punctuality norms vary by context. Business meetings are expected to start close to on time. Social dinners — guests typically arrive 15–30 minutes late ('è scortese essere puntuali' — it's rude to be punctual). Theatre/opera: you must be on time. Mass: arriving late is tolerated but noted.
Sono in ritardo, mi perdoni.
I am late, forgive me.
More emphatic apology — 'perdoni' is the formal imperative of 'perdonare'.
Ho fatto un po' tardi.
I ran a bit late.
Casual acknowledgement without strong apology — for social contexts.
Il traffico era impossibile.
The traffic was impossible.
Classic Italian excuse — usually accepted with understanding.
The Italian concept of 'fare bella figura' (making a good impression) means that apologising sincerely for lateness — rather than offering flimsy excuses — actually improves how you are perceived. Sincerity and style matter more than punctuality itself.